The Island Games have a special place in my heart because one of my sisters has been to a few in the past.
Now my other sister is going to be competing in this one, and I figured, why let her have all the fun?
So I’m getting involved as a volunteer for Orkney 2025, and helping make these Games the best that have ever been.
Although I am happy to be helping Orkney, I am volunteering as an attaché for another Scottish island, the Western Isles.
Home to around 26,000 people, the Western Isles have won 81 medals since joining the Island Games in 2005.
I love football, so I am especially looking forward to watching that, but all of the sports are going to be incredible.
I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I’ve had to brush up on my geography recently.
I don’t have a very good sense of direction, and I’m worried that I’ll point our visitors in the wrong direction.
I’ve only lived on Orkney my entire life, so you’d think I’d know my way around by now!
I have heard such good things about the Island Games from my sister and from my colleagues who have experienced them before.
I can’t wait for them to come to Orkney, where we can all get stuck in and feel the positive atmosphere.
So much hard work has been put into these Games that I know they will be a truly unforgettable experience.
This is a massive undertaking for Orkney, but it will forever change the people who get to experience it.
If you’re looking for something to do in July, you have no reason not to get over here and experience them firsthand.
We will be charting the Island Games, and the Scholes team’s contributions, as they unfold.
